Which one was Israel's Messiah--according to the prophets?

2 years ago
51

Many Jewish people today have given up on the hope of a promised Messiah who will change the world. Israel’s early kings were anointed with olive oil, and “Messiah” means “Anointed One.” God replaced the first king, Saul, with the former shepherd boy David, son of Jesse. But he sent the prophet Nathan to assure David that a descendant of his would rule forever. That prophecy appeared to fail when the line of kings descended from David was interrupted by the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem. The royal family line of David, son of Jesse, seemed like a stump left in the ground after a tree was cut down—a dead stump. But the prophet Isaiah foretold that there would be a future Messiah King descended from that same royal family line. Isaiah wrote at length, throughout his prophetic scroll, describing the Messiah and his reign. And the other prophets added their own assurances, making the Messiah the hope of Israel. Was Rabbi Mendel Menachem Schneerson that promised Messiah? Or was it Jesus of Nazareth, or Simon bar Kochba or Sabbatai Zevi --or someone else, or someone yet to come? Israel’s prophets give us enough details of the future Messiah and his life and death, --enough so that we can find an authoritative answer in their divinely inspired words. Samuel, Isaiah, Daniel, Micah and other prophets all give details about the Messiah that help to identify him. But Isaiah says the most, so let’s start there.

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